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Deadspin | Timbers focused on present, not past disappointment vs. San Diego   Apr 18, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Portland Timbers forward Kristoffer Velde (99) controls the ball as Minnesota United FC defender Morris Duggan (23) defends  during the second half at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images   The Portland Timbers will try to avoid focusing on vengeance for last season’s playoff exit on Saturday night when they visit a San Diego FC squad enduring the roughest stretch of the club’s two-year existence.  The Timbers (2-5-1, 7 points) were one of eight clubs that didn’t play on Wednesday.  That gave manager Phil Neville’s side a week to prepare for a San Diego side that eliminated Portland from the playoffs last season in a tightly contested first-round series.  But with Portland currently five points beneath the playoff line in the Western Conference, he hopes his squad can leave the emotion of that defeat behind.  “I don’t do revenge,” Neville said. “I think that’s very short-sighted. I think if you get clouded with that kind of emotion, you don’t have clarity of mind. … I think I see it as an opportunity rather than revenge, and I’m sure they do as well.”  Kristoffer Velde leads the Timbers with three goals, including the first in the Timbers’ 2-1 victory over LAFC two weekends ago.  Eight other players have each scored once for a side that has lost its first four away fixtures, including 2-0 at Minnesota last weekend.   San Diego (3-4-2, 11 points) enters having lost four straight in the league, one game more than its longest losing stretch in the club’s inaugural 2025 season.  Amid that dynamic, SDFC manager Mikey Varas agrees there won’t be much carryover from last postseason.  “Every season, the teams are a little bit different, so it’s all a fresh start,” Varas said. “The team is really hungry to continue making steps forward and get back to our best.”  Three of those four defeats have come on the road, with San Diego failing to score in two of those away fixtures.  San Diego has also seen a player sent off in four of its last five matches. Striker Amahl Pellegrino was dismissed in the 79th minute of Wednesday’s 1-0 loss at the Houston Dynamo and will serve his one-match suspension Saturday.  Marcus Ingvartsen leads San Diego with five league goals and Anders Dreyer has four.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Timbers #focused #present #disappointment #San #Diego

Deadspin | Timbers focused on present, not past disappointment vs. San Diego
Deadspin | Timbers focused on present, not past disappointment vs. San Diego   Apr 18, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Portland Timbers forward Kristoffer Velde (99) controls the ball as Minnesota United FC defender Morris Duggan (23) defends  during the second half at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images   The Portland Timbers will try to avoid focusing on vengeance for last season’s playoff exit on Saturday night when they visit a San Diego FC squad enduring the roughest stretch of the club’s two-year existence.  The Timbers (2-5-1, 7 points) were one of eight clubs that didn’t play on Wednesday.  That gave manager Phil Neville’s side a week to prepare for a San Diego side that eliminated Portland from the playoffs last season in a tightly contested first-round series.  But with Portland currently five points beneath the playoff line in the Western Conference, he hopes his squad can leave the emotion of that defeat behind.  “I don’t do revenge,” Neville said. “I think that’s very short-sighted. I think if you get clouded with that kind of emotion, you don’t have clarity of mind. … I think I see it as an opportunity rather than revenge, and I’m sure they do as well.”  Kristoffer Velde leads the Timbers with three goals, including the first in the Timbers’ 2-1 victory over LAFC two weekends ago.  Eight other players have each scored once for a side that has lost its first four away fixtures, including 2-0 at Minnesota last weekend.   San Diego (3-4-2, 11 points) enters having lost four straight in the league, one game more than its longest losing stretch in the club’s inaugural 2025 season.  Amid that dynamic, SDFC manager Mikey Varas agrees there won’t be much carryover from last postseason.  “Every season, the teams are a little bit different, so it’s all a fresh start,” Varas said. “The team is really hungry to continue making steps forward and get back to our best.”  Three of those four defeats have come on the road, with San Diego failing to score in two of those away fixtures.  San Diego has also seen a player sent off in four of its last five matches. Striker Amahl Pellegrino was dismissed in the 79th minute of Wednesday’s 1-0 loss at the Houston Dynamo and will serve his one-match suspension Saturday.  Marcus Ingvartsen leads San Diego with five league goals and Anders Dreyer has four.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Timbers #focused #present #disappointment #San #DiegoApr 18, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Portland Timbers forward Kristoffer Velde (99) controls the ball as Minnesota United FC defender Morris Duggan (23) defends during the second half at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Portland Timbers will try to avoid focusing on vengeance for last season’s playoff exit on Saturday night when they visit a San Diego FC squad enduring the roughest stretch of the club’s two-year existence.

The Timbers (2-5-1, 7 points) were one of eight clubs that didn’t play on Wednesday.

That gave manager Phil Neville’s side a week to prepare for a San Diego side that eliminated Portland from the playoffs last season in a tightly contested first-round series.

But with Portland currently five points beneath the playoff line in the Western Conference, he hopes his squad can leave the emotion of that defeat behind.

“I don’t do revenge,” Neville said. “I think that’s very short-sighted. I think if you get clouded with that kind of emotion, you don’t have clarity of mind. … I think I see it as an opportunity rather than revenge, and I’m sure they do as well.”

Kristoffer Velde leads the Timbers with three goals, including the first in the Timbers’ 2-1 victory over LAFC two weekends ago.


Eight other players have each scored once for a side that has lost its first four away fixtures, including 2-0 at Minnesota last weekend.

San Diego (3-4-2, 11 points) enters having lost four straight in the league, one game more than its longest losing stretch in the club’s inaugural 2025 season.

Amid that dynamic, SDFC manager Mikey Varas agrees there won’t be much carryover from last postseason.

“Every season, the teams are a little bit different, so it’s all a fresh start,” Varas said. “The team is really hungry to continue making steps forward and get back to our best.”

Three of those four defeats have come on the road, with San Diego failing to score in two of those away fixtures.

San Diego has also seen a player sent off in four of its last five matches. Striker Amahl Pellegrino was dismissed in the 79th minute of Wednesday’s 1-0 loss at the Houston Dynamo and will serve his one-match suspension Saturday.

Marcus Ingvartsen leads San Diego with five league goals and Anders Dreyer has four.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Timbers #focused #present #disappointment #San #Diego

Apr 18, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Portland Timbers forward Kristoffer Velde (99) controls the ball as Minnesota United FC defender Morris Duggan (23) defends during the second half at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Portland Timbers will try to avoid focusing on vengeance for last season’s playoff exit on Saturday night when they visit a San Diego FC squad enduring the roughest stretch of the club’s two-year existence.

The Timbers (2-5-1, 7 points) were one of eight clubs that didn’t play on Wednesday.

That gave manager Phil Neville’s side a week to prepare for a San Diego side that eliminated Portland from the playoffs last season in a tightly contested first-round series.

But with Portland currently five points beneath the playoff line in the Western Conference, he hopes his squad can leave the emotion of that defeat behind.

“I don’t do revenge,” Neville said. “I think that’s very short-sighted. I think if you get clouded with that kind of emotion, you don’t have clarity of mind. … I think I see it as an opportunity rather than revenge, and I’m sure they do as well.”

Kristoffer Velde leads the Timbers with three goals, including the first in the Timbers’ 2-1 victory over LAFC two weekends ago.

Eight other players have each scored once for a side that has lost its first four away fixtures, including 2-0 at Minnesota last weekend.

San Diego (3-4-2, 11 points) enters having lost four straight in the league, one game more than its longest losing stretch in the club’s inaugural 2025 season.

Amid that dynamic, SDFC manager Mikey Varas agrees there won’t be much carryover from last postseason.

“Every season, the teams are a little bit different, so it’s all a fresh start,” Varas said. “The team is really hungry to continue making steps forward and get back to our best.”

Three of those four defeats have come on the road, with San Diego failing to score in two of those away fixtures.

San Diego has also seen a player sent off in four of its last five matches. Striker Amahl Pellegrino was dismissed in the 79th minute of Wednesday’s 1-0 loss at the Houston Dynamo and will serve his one-match suspension Saturday.

Marcus Ingvartsen leads San Diego with five league goals and Anders Dreyer has four.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Timbers #focused #present #disappointment #San #Diego

Arsenal is back on top of the Premier League, but Mikel Arteta claimed its title challenge could be ruined by two rejected red card decisions in its games against Manchester City and Newcastle.

Arteta’s side is three points clear of second-placed Manchester City after Eberechi Eze’s early strike clinched a vital 1-0 win against Newcastle on Saturday.

But the Gunners boss was frustrated with the decision not to send off Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope for a foul on Viktor Gyokeres in the 74th minute at the Emirates Stadium.

Pope raced out of his penalty area to clatter Gyokeres, escaping with a yellow card because the Sweden striker was wide on the right wing without a clear sight of goal.

ALSO READ | Nervy Arsenal goes back to top as Eze seals vital win over Newcastle

With the prospect of goal difference potentially deciding a gripping title race, Arteta knew Arsenal would have had a chance to rack up a bigger win if Newcastle were reduced to 10 men.

Instead, it had to settle for a result that left the side only one goal better off than City in the goal difference column.

Arteta was also still harbouring a grievance from last weekend’s crucial 2-1 defeat at City, when Abdukodir Khusanov wasn’t sent off after hauling down Kai Havertz.

The Spaniard believes those two decisions could prove decisive in settling the title race.

“I don’t know why the Newcastle keeper wasn’t sent off. I have seen it 10 times. If you have ever watched football, you know it was a red card. These are the margins,” Arteta said.

“I am saying the reality of the last two games, in crucial moments with everything at stake, we need things to go our way. I’m not making excuses.

“It was a red card today and a red card in Manchester. If they go our way we are in a different world today.”

Arteta’s rant underlined the mounting tension at the Emirates as Arsenal chases a first English title since 2004.

City’s 1-0 win at Burnley in midweek had knocked Arsenal off top spot for the first time since October, raising the spectre of another title race collapse after its blown leads in 2023 and 2024 gifted the trophy to Pep Guardiola’s men.

‘Path of roses’

Arsenal had lost its previous two league games and four of its last six in all competitions.

Once again, the side struggled to impose itself for long periods against Newcastle, but Eze’s superb strike from a well-worked short corner was enough to settle its nerves.

“We talk about game one and how important that was. We certainly did the job. When it’s 1-0 it’s always tough, especially with the quality of players they brought on,” Arteta said.

“We tried to get a second goal but when you can’t do that you have to win it in other areas.”

City has a game in hand on Arsenal and retains control of the title race.

But Arsenal can move six points clear if it beats Fulham next weekend, before City is next in league action against Everton on May 4.

Arteta knows there will be plenty more twists and turns before Arsenal can finally end its long wait for the title.

“We are where we are. I don’t expect after 22 years, it is going to be a path of roses and beautiful music around it,” he said.

“It is so hard to win the Premier League, it is so competitive.

“We have to do what is in our hands. Game one was in our hands. We had to win it and we have done it. We wanted a bigger margin but we were not able to.”

Arteta faces a nervous wait to discover if Eze and Havertz will be fit for Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg at Atletico Madrid.

“They are muscular niggles. We dont think it is too much. We have to see if they are available for Wednesday,” he said.

Published on Apr 26, 2026

#Mikel #Arteta #Arsenal #regains #lead #Premier #League #title #race #making #excuses">Mikel Arteta as Arsenal regains lead in Premier League title race: I am not making excuses, we need things to go our way  Arsenal is back on top of the Premier League, but Mikel Arteta claimed its title challenge could be ruined by two rejected red card decisions in its games against Manchester City and Newcastle.Arteta’s side is three points clear of second-placed Manchester City after Eberechi Eze’s early strike clinched a vital 1-0 win against Newcastle on Saturday.But the Gunners boss was frustrated with the decision not to send off Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope for a foul on Viktor Gyokeres in the 74th minute at the Emirates Stadium.Pope raced out of his penalty area to clatter Gyokeres, escaping with a yellow card because the Sweden striker was wide on the right wing without a clear sight of goal.ALSO READ | Nervy Arsenal goes back to top as Eze seals vital win over NewcastleWith the prospect of goal difference potentially deciding a gripping title race, Arteta knew Arsenal would have had a chance to rack up a bigger win if Newcastle were reduced to 10 men.Instead, it had to settle for a result that left the side only one goal better off than City in the goal difference column.Arteta was also still harbouring a grievance from last weekend’s crucial 2-1 defeat at City, when Abdukodir Khusanov wasn’t sent off after hauling down Kai Havertz.What three points means to @Arsenal 🔴 pic.twitter.com/6RsQe702Fn— Premier League (@premierleague) April 25, 2026The Spaniard believes those two decisions could prove decisive in settling the title race.“I don’t know why the Newcastle keeper wasn’t sent off. I have seen it 10 times. If you have ever watched football, you know it was a red card. These are the margins,” Arteta said.“I am saying the reality of the last two games, in crucial moments with everything at stake, we need things to go our way. I’m not making excuses.“It was a red card today and a red card in Manchester. If they go our way we are in a different world today.”Arteta’s rant underlined the mounting tension at the Emirates as Arsenal chases a first English title since 2004.City’s 1-0 win at Burnley in midweek had knocked Arsenal off top spot for the first time since October, raising the spectre of another title race collapse after its blown leads in 2023 and 2024 gifted the trophy to Pep Guardiola’s men.‘Path of roses’Arsenal had lost its previous two league games and four of its last six in all competitions.Once again, the side struggled to impose itself for long periods against Newcastle, but Eze’s superb strike from a well-worked short corner was enough to settle its nerves.“We talk about game one and how important that was. We certainly did the job. When it’s 1-0 it’s always tough, especially with the quality of players they brought on,” Arteta said.“We tried to get a second goal but when you can’t do that you have to win it in other areas.”City has a game in hand on Arsenal and retains control of the title race.But Arsenal can move six points clear if it beats Fulham next weekend, before City is next in league action against Everton on May 4.Arteta knows there will be plenty more twists and turns before Arsenal can finally end its long wait for the title.“We are where we are. I don’t expect after 22 years, it is going to be a path of roses and beautiful music around it,” he said.“It is so hard to win the Premier League, it is so competitive.“We have to do what is in our hands. Game one was in our hands. We had to win it and we have done it. We wanted a bigger margin but we were not able to.”Arteta faces a nervous wait to discover if Eze and Havertz will be fit for Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg at Atletico Madrid.“They are muscular niggles. We dont think it is too much. We have to see if they are available for Wednesday,” he said.Published on Apr 26, 2026  #Mikel #Arteta #Arsenal #regains #lead #Premier #League #title #race #making #excuses

Nervy Arsenal goes back to top as Eze seals vital win over Newcastle

With the prospect of goal difference potentially deciding a gripping title race, Arteta knew Arsenal would have had a chance to rack up a bigger win if Newcastle were reduced to 10 men.

Instead, it had to settle for a result that left the side only one goal better off than City in the goal difference column.

Arteta was also still harbouring a grievance from last weekend’s crucial 2-1 defeat at City, when Abdukodir Khusanov wasn’t sent off after hauling down Kai Havertz.

The Spaniard believes those two decisions could prove decisive in settling the title race.

“I don’t know why the Newcastle keeper wasn’t sent off. I have seen it 10 times. If you have ever watched football, you know it was a red card. These are the margins,” Arteta said.

“I am saying the reality of the last two games, in crucial moments with everything at stake, we need things to go our way. I’m not making excuses.

“It was a red card today and a red card in Manchester. If they go our way we are in a different world today.”

Arteta’s rant underlined the mounting tension at the Emirates as Arsenal chases a first English title since 2004.

City’s 1-0 win at Burnley in midweek had knocked Arsenal off top spot for the first time since October, raising the spectre of another title race collapse after its blown leads in 2023 and 2024 gifted the trophy to Pep Guardiola’s men.

‘Path of roses’

Arsenal had lost its previous two league games and four of its last six in all competitions.

Once again, the side struggled to impose itself for long periods against Newcastle, but Eze’s superb strike from a well-worked short corner was enough to settle its nerves.

“We talk about game one and how important that was. We certainly did the job. When it’s 1-0 it’s always tough, especially with the quality of players they brought on,” Arteta said.

“We tried to get a second goal but when you can’t do that you have to win it in other areas.”

City has a game in hand on Arsenal and retains control of the title race.

But Arsenal can move six points clear if it beats Fulham next weekend, before City is next in league action against Everton on May 4.

Arteta knows there will be plenty more twists and turns before Arsenal can finally end its long wait for the title.

“We are where we are. I don’t expect after 22 years, it is going to be a path of roses and beautiful music around it,” he said.

“It is so hard to win the Premier League, it is so competitive.

“We have to do what is in our hands. Game one was in our hands. We had to win it and we have done it. We wanted a bigger margin but we were not able to.”

Arteta faces a nervous wait to discover if Eze and Havertz will be fit for Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg at Atletico Madrid.

“They are muscular niggles. We dont think it is too much. We have to see if they are available for Wednesday,” he said.

Published on Apr 26, 2026

#Mikel #Arteta #Arsenal #regains #lead #Premier #League #title #race #making #excuses">Mikel Arteta as Arsenal regains lead in Premier League title race: I am not making excuses, we need things to go our way

Arsenal is back on top of the Premier League, but Mikel Arteta claimed its title challenge could be ruined by two rejected red card decisions in its games against Manchester City and Newcastle.

Arteta’s side is three points clear of second-placed Manchester City after Eberechi Eze’s early strike clinched a vital 1-0 win against Newcastle on Saturday.

But the Gunners boss was frustrated with the decision not to send off Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope for a foul on Viktor Gyokeres in the 74th minute at the Emirates Stadium.

Pope raced out of his penalty area to clatter Gyokeres, escaping with a yellow card because the Sweden striker was wide on the right wing without a clear sight of goal.

ALSO READ | Nervy Arsenal goes back to top as Eze seals vital win over Newcastle

With the prospect of goal difference potentially deciding a gripping title race, Arteta knew Arsenal would have had a chance to rack up a bigger win if Newcastle were reduced to 10 men.

Instead, it had to settle for a result that left the side only one goal better off than City in the goal difference column.

Arteta was also still harbouring a grievance from last weekend’s crucial 2-1 defeat at City, when Abdukodir Khusanov wasn’t sent off after hauling down Kai Havertz.

The Spaniard believes those two decisions could prove decisive in settling the title race.

“I don’t know why the Newcastle keeper wasn’t sent off. I have seen it 10 times. If you have ever watched football, you know it was a red card. These are the margins,” Arteta said.

“I am saying the reality of the last two games, in crucial moments with everything at stake, we need things to go our way. I’m not making excuses.

“It was a red card today and a red card in Manchester. If they go our way we are in a different world today.”

Arteta’s rant underlined the mounting tension at the Emirates as Arsenal chases a first English title since 2004.

City’s 1-0 win at Burnley in midweek had knocked Arsenal off top spot for the first time since October, raising the spectre of another title race collapse after its blown leads in 2023 and 2024 gifted the trophy to Pep Guardiola’s men.

‘Path of roses’

Arsenal had lost its previous two league games and four of its last six in all competitions.

Once again, the side struggled to impose itself for long periods against Newcastle, but Eze’s superb strike from a well-worked short corner was enough to settle its nerves.

“We talk about game one and how important that was. We certainly did the job. When it’s 1-0 it’s always tough, especially with the quality of players they brought on,” Arteta said.

“We tried to get a second goal but when you can’t do that you have to win it in other areas.”

City has a game in hand on Arsenal and retains control of the title race.

But Arsenal can move six points clear if it beats Fulham next weekend, before City is next in league action against Everton on May 4.

Arteta knows there will be plenty more twists and turns before Arsenal can finally end its long wait for the title.

“We are where we are. I don’t expect after 22 years, it is going to be a path of roses and beautiful music around it,” he said.

“It is so hard to win the Premier League, it is so competitive.

“We have to do what is in our hands. Game one was in our hands. We had to win it and we have done it. We wanted a bigger margin but we were not able to.”

Arteta faces a nervous wait to discover if Eze and Havertz will be fit for Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal first leg at Atletico Madrid.

“They are muscular niggles. We dont think it is too much. We have to see if they are available for Wednesday,” he said.

Published on Apr 26, 2026

#Mikel #Arteta #Arsenal #regains #lead #Premier #League #title #race #making #excuses
Deadspin | Whitecaps continue hot home streak, down Rapids  Apr 25, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN;  Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen (1) watches the shot from Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Brian White (24) (not pictured)as it goes into the goal during the first half at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images   Brian White scored a brace to lead the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Colorado Rapids on Saturday night.  Cheikh Sabaly also scored a goal for Vancouver (8-1-0, 24 points), which won its fourth straight match, all at home. Yohei Takaoka made two saves for the Whitecaps, who remained three points behind the first-place San Jose Earthquakes, a 3-2 winner over St. Louis City earlier Saturday, in the Western Conference standings.  Rafael Navarro scored a goal and Zack Steffen finished with five saves for Colorado (4-5-1, 13 points).  Vancouver took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute when Sabaly drilled a right-footed shot from the middle of the box into the right corner. Thomas Muller notched an assist on the play with a one-touch pass from the left wing.  White made it 2-0 midway through the period, taking a long through pass from Andres Cubas outside the left side of the penalty box and then curling a right-footed shot around Steffen and into the far right corner of the net.   Colorado was coming in off a 0-0 draw at Los Angeles FC on Wednesday that saw the Rapids finish with 72.5% possession. They cut the lead to 2-1 in the 32nd minute when Navarro put in a left-footed rebound of his own shot from inside the 6-yard box.  Vancouver appeared to regain a two-goal lead in the 77th minute when Bruno Caicedo knocked in a rebound of his own shot near the middle edge of the 6-yard box. However, the goal was overturned after a lengthy VAR review for a handball when it was determined the ball hit Caicedo in the arm after his original shot was blocked by Lucas Herrington.  The Whitecaps then made it 3-1 eight minutes later when Caicedo fielded a long through pass from Sebastian Berhalter on the left wing and crossed a pass to White in the center of the box. White then smashed a left-footed shot into the left corner of the net for his eighth goal of the season.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Whitecaps #continue #hot #home #streak #RapidsApr 25, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen (1) watches the shot from Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Brian White (24) (not pictured)as it goes into the goal during the first half at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images

Brian White scored a brace to lead the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Colorado Rapids on Saturday night.

Cheikh Sabaly also scored a goal for Vancouver (8-1-0, 24 points), which won its fourth straight match, all at home. Yohei Takaoka made two saves for the Whitecaps, who remained three points behind the first-place San Jose Earthquakes, a 3-2 winner over St. Louis City earlier Saturday, in the Western Conference standings.

Rafael Navarro scored a goal and Zack Steffen finished with five saves for Colorado (4-5-1, 13 points).

Vancouver took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute when Sabaly drilled a right-footed shot from the middle of the box into the right corner. Thomas Muller notched an assist on the play with a one-touch pass from the left wing.


White made it 2-0 midway through the period, taking a long through pass from Andres Cubas outside the left side of the penalty box and then curling a right-footed shot around Steffen and into the far right corner of the net.

Colorado was coming in off a 0-0 draw at Los Angeles FC on Wednesday that saw the Rapids finish with 72.5% possession. They cut the lead to 2-1 in the 32nd minute when Navarro put in a left-footed rebound of his own shot from inside the 6-yard box.

Vancouver appeared to regain a two-goal lead in the 77th minute when Bruno Caicedo knocked in a rebound of his own shot near the middle edge of the 6-yard box. However, the goal was overturned after a lengthy VAR review for a handball when it was determined the ball hit Caicedo in the arm after his original shot was blocked by Lucas Herrington.

The Whitecaps then made it 3-1 eight minutes later when Caicedo fielded a long through pass from Sebastian Berhalter on the left wing and crossed a pass to White in the center of the box. White then smashed a left-footed shot into the left corner of the net for his eighth goal of the season.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Whitecaps #continue #hot #home #streak #Rapids">Deadspin | Whitecaps continue hot home streak, down Rapids  Apr 25, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN;  Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen (1) watches the shot from Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Brian White (24) (not pictured)as it goes into the goal during the first half at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images   Brian White scored a brace to lead the Vancouver Whitecaps to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Colorado Rapids on Saturday night.  Cheikh Sabaly also scored a goal for Vancouver (8-1-0, 24 points), which won its fourth straight match, all at home. Yohei Takaoka made two saves for the Whitecaps, who remained three points behind the first-place San Jose Earthquakes, a 3-2 winner over St. Louis City earlier Saturday, in the Western Conference standings.  Rafael Navarro scored a goal and Zack Steffen finished with five saves for Colorado (4-5-1, 13 points).  Vancouver took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute when Sabaly drilled a right-footed shot from the middle of the box into the right corner. Thomas Muller notched an assist on the play with a one-touch pass from the left wing.  White made it 2-0 midway through the period, taking a long through pass from Andres Cubas outside the left side of the penalty box and then curling a right-footed shot around Steffen and into the far right corner of the net.   Colorado was coming in off a 0-0 draw at Los Angeles FC on Wednesday that saw the Rapids finish with 72.5% possession. They cut the lead to 2-1 in the 32nd minute when Navarro put in a left-footed rebound of his own shot from inside the 6-yard box.  Vancouver appeared to regain a two-goal lead in the 77th minute when Bruno Caicedo knocked in a rebound of his own shot near the middle edge of the 6-yard box. However, the goal was overturned after a lengthy VAR review for a handball when it was determined the ball hit Caicedo in the arm after his original shot was blocked by Lucas Herrington.  The Whitecaps then made it 3-1 eight minutes later when Caicedo fielded a long through pass from Sebastian Berhalter on the left wing and crossed a pass to White in the center of the box. White then smashed a left-footed shot into the left corner of the net for his eighth goal of the season.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Whitecaps #continue #hot #home #streak #Rapids

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